MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nick Strait
nstrait@fresnofalcons.com
October 18, 2002

FALCONS ESCAPE WITH WIN IN HOME OPENER
Fresno Rallies for Thrilling 2-1 Shootout Victory

FRESNO, Calif. - When the Fresno Falcons and Idaho Steelheads get together,
60 minutes never seems to be enough. Five months removed from their epic
double-over time victory over the Steelheads in last season's Taylor Cup
Finals, the Falcons again needed a little extra time to knock off the
Steelheads. This time they rallied from a one-goal third period deficit to
force a shootout, where they prevailed to beat the Steelheads, 2-1, in the
team's home opener at Selland Arena. Jason Weaver did the honors of scoring
the Falcons first goal of the 2002-03 season, as his was the Falcons lone
tally in regulation. Terry Friesen made 28 saves between the pipes for the
defending Taylor Cup Champions to help secure the team's first victory of
the season.

Idaho opened up the scoring just 3:34 into the first frame when Marty
Flichel flipped the puck past Friesen for the early 1-0 lead. The Steelheads
held that lead through the second period, but not without a couple of
scares. The Falcons had a pair of goals whipped off the board in the second
frame to preserve Idaho's fragile one-goal lead. The Falcons finally managed
to crack Idaho netminder Blair Allison in the third period when Weaver took
a feed from Iain Fraser and put the puck in the back of the net to tie the
score midway through the third period to force the shootout.

The shootout proved to be no contest, as Cory Murphy, Kevin Haupt and Scott
Borders all beat Allison for goals while Friesen stopped three of the four
shots he faced. Fresno continued to struggle on the power play, going
scoreless in all seven of their power play chances. Fresno is still
searching for their first power play goal of the season, having dropped to
0-18 after two games.

With the victory, Fresno improves their record to 1-1-0 with two points in
the young season. For Idaho, it was their first defeat the season, dropping
their record to 2-0-1 with five points. In the final home opener at Selland
Arena for the Falcons, they improved their all time record to 4-4-0 in home
openers.

These two teams will be back at it again tomorrow night at Selland Arena at
7:30 p.m. The first 5,000 fans through the doors will receive a free 2002-03
Falcons Magnet Schedule, courtesy of Spinal Health Center, Institute of
Technology, New Rock 104.1 and KFRE WB 59. Tickets are on sale now at the
Selland Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations, or on-line at
www.ticketmaster.com.

Box Score

Final - Shootout
1 2 3 SO T
Idaho 1 0 0 0 1
Fresno 0 0 1 1 2

Shots On Goal
1 2 3 T
Idaho 7 13 5 25
Fresno 15 7 7 29

Period 1
Scoring: 1, IDA, Flichel 2 (Swanson, Shermerhorn), 3:34 (pp).
Penalties: Borders, FRE (Roughing), 0:38; Both, FRE (Tripping), 3:17;
Mylymok, IDA (Interference), 3:57; Mylymok, IDA (Charging), 6:50; Landry,
FRE (Elbowing), 8:58; Keup, IDA (Kneeing - Major), 10:41; Keup, IDA (Game
Misconduct), 10:41; Bench, IDA (Too Many Men), 12:06; Murphy, FRE
(Tripping), 14:53; Paget, IDA (Roughinh), 17:31; Shockey, IDA (Roughing),
17:31; Martin, IDA (Holding), 17:31; Martin, IDA (Cross Checking), 17:31;
Todd, FRE (Roughing), 17:31; Todd, FRE (Game Misconduct), 17:31; Both, FRE
(Roughing), 17:31; Both, FRE (Roughing), 17:31;

Period 2 Scoring: none
Penalties: Both, FRE (Roughing), 5:32; Both, FRE (Roughing), 5:32; Martin,
IDA (Obstruction Hooking), 7:42; Murphy, FRE (Tripping), 7:42; Schoneck, FRE
(Obstruction Hooking), 11:14; Copeland, IDA (Obstruction Tripping), 17:14;

Period 3
Scoring: 2, Weaver 1 (Fraser, Frederick), 9:25.
Penalties: Rybar, IDA (Obstruction Tripping), 1:02; Both, FRE (Roughing),
10:58; Both, FRE (Roughing), 10:58 Porter, FRE (Cross Checking), 10:58;
Schoneck, FRE (Roughing), 10:58; Schoneck, FRE (Game Misconduct), 10:58;
Vasut, IDA (Tripping), 10:58; Pinc, IDA (Roughing), 10:58; Pinc, IDA
(Roughing), 10:58; Mylymok, IDA (Roughing), 10:58; Mylymok, IDA (Roughing),
10:58;
Fresno Shootout Results 1. FRE: Murphy - Goal 2. FRE: Haupt - Goal 3. FRE:
Borders - Goal
Idaho Shootout Results 1. IDA: Morgan - Miss 2. IDA: Flichel - Goal 3. IDA:
Shevalier - Miss 4. IDA: Mylymok - Miss

GOALTENDING:

Idaho - Allison - 28-29
Fresno - Friesen - 24-25

POWER PLAYS:

Idaho - 1 of 8
Fresno - 0 of 7

ATTENDANCE: 6,039